Cama

I’m fucking glad this place closed. It was a pretentious haven of ass-​clowns. The first (and last) time I went here, the hipster bartender (who had a tattoo of fucking scissors (!) – I shit you not – on his arm) picked a fight with me within two minutes. It didn’t turn physical, but that’s probably because I was yelling and punctuating my points by jabbing my finger at him. Drinks seemed to be a good four dollars more expensive than they had a right to be, as well. Don’t ever go here if they re-​open. I’m a mellow dude, but this shithole was bad news. I’m very sad I can’t give this place a negative star rating.

I think this location is cursed, I remember going to Doc. Bombay’s (even back in High School — which I suppose might indicate that Bombay’s had some issues), and it was always kind of empty, though for no real reason.
Now with Cama there’s a reason for it to be empty, oddness — not quirky, but that element of the uncanny — fills the place from its soiled feeling pillow/​bench/​bed seating to its questionably named, though reasonably tasty drinks.
The barkeep was very nice, and I left having enjoyed myself, but mostly because I felt like I’d managed to escape from something and as I had already been drunker than the priest at my Grandma’s funeral when I walked in the door.

I originally remember being sad when Dr. Bombay’s closed down, but then I thought to myself, «that place was a depressing, urine-​soaked hell hole for the last 5 years of its existence».
And even though it’s a little overpriced, a little too swanky for my taste, and has an owner that rides around on roller blades, I Like this place. It’s nice that everywhere in the Mission doesn’t feel the need to become the next Zeitgeist.

Hmm, I think I know why this place is getting such a bad rap… it almost looks like a trendy bar. Certainly it’s no Skylark, but it’s close enough to scare away the Zeitgeist crowd.
Fear not!
Sure it isn’t the rundown beer swilling bar you’d expect to find in these parts, but it’s also no Hollywood-​wannabe oasis. Expect to find a few early 30 something hipsters sipping on mixed drinks. It’s not crowded enough for a real scene, so don’t go without bringing the party.

People talk shit about this place and how it’s the marinification of the mission, but i rather like it for several reasons:
1. good happy hour prices, and happy hour drinks that aren’t watered down;
2. they give you asian (not oriental) rice crackers to munch on;
3. if you shell out for those concoctions listed on the wall, most of them are pretty good — there’s one with yoohoo and something (forgot the name), but you get a slab of toblerone on the rim;
4. those couch-​like stations; and lastly,
5. it’s not too crowded, probably because people talk shit about it.
i think it’s a decent place to grab a drink or to launch or stop by on a weekend bar hop in the mission.

I have to disagree with most people here, apparently. I stopped in early on a Saturday (approx. 4:30pm) with a friend who was visiting from NYC. The décor is fabulous and comfortable, and the drinks are pretty good too. Plus, $ 8 for specialty cocktails — with freshly squeezed juice — is a damn fine deal. Alternatively, there’s always the $ 1 PBRs.
ALSO, I have to stress that the bartender/​DJ was really cool and had excellent taste in music.
Possibility for more stars if I get a chance to stop by at night, you know, when there are people there.

I was here the other drunken night, it was my last stop, and from what I remember, which is very little, it was ok.
The crowd sucked, the bartenders are ok, they actually seemed more like robots, just made the drinks with zero personality. I’m not looking for Tom Cruise in Cocktail, but come on, at least a smile??? Oh please Mr. Bartender, don’t stir my drink with that stick, I think its been up your butt…
My most vivd memories were of the blow-​up-​sex-​doll porn playing, and watching ET blow a load… which still makes me laugh, because I hated ET as a kid, but now have a new found respect for him.
This was my third time coming here, its always a last minute, easy to find bar. Not a place I ever plan to be.

How does this place stay open when it’s always empty? I see a ton of reviews so you people must go there in your invisibility cloaks. I happened inside Cama once because they were having a Willie Wonka promo and giving away bouncy balls and braclets — I’m such a sucker for cheap shit. They also had some choco-​cocktail special which I tried against all better judgement. It was ok.
Oops, I also went in the first time, I nearly forgot… it was someone’s birthday, maybe Amy… and everyone was drinking Cosmos or some shit, so I had to leave.
I believe I met the guy that owns Cama at Thanksgiving 2 years ago, if it was him he had on a lime shirt that blended into my friend’s wall and he also owns Frjtz so I will give it an extra star just for that.

Couches, strong drinks, dogs can roam free, and there’s usually a skateboarding or surfing video playing… this place is criminally underappreciated. Especially by hot girls, who should be here all the time. Tell you what. I’ll be here all the time and just meet you there.
Save me a spot on the couch. And a few pillows.

Good happy hour — $ 1 pabst, $ 3 – 4 (I forget because I had so many) cosmos on the rocks, $ 1 off well drinks. Cushy seating and good music. It’s a good starting off point to a night in the Mission.

if its sleep themed, why is it so goddamned loud in here?
clearly, i just don’t get it

Weird place, but not too crowded. Interesting drink concoctions on the backlit menuboard, but sadly, they don’t seem to work and the ones we tried simply tasted nasty. It was a bit funny though when some Marina bizzel brought her martinis back to the bar saying they tasted terrible, got into a verbal altercation with the bartender who then told her not to come back up to the counter. hehe. funny.

RIP DOCTOR BOMBAY’S.
RIP.

[EDIT: HAHA! Buh-​bye shitty Cama. You sucked ass. I wonder what crap hipster nightmare has replaced you.]
Utterly worthless. This tacky, soulless sh! thole replaced Doc Bombay’s, which was a fantastic dive bar. Why bother saying anything else about this nonentity?

I remember when this place was Doctor Bombay’s & had the cutest punk bartenders. Then, I think they lost their licquour liscence and got shut down. Now, it’s turned into THIS. Couldn’t they have opened this place in North Beach or Union Street, where they dig this kind of shit? Even giving the one star is painful.

I guess its love/​hate with this place, but that makes sense because its really hit and miss. The Morpheus drink is pretty good. Its like a Mojito but it has Basil instead of Mint and Vodka instead of Rum. It should be made stronger for 8 bucks though. They have a back patio for the smokers… but I feel bad for the neigbors who have to hear about it.
The décor is a little funky and its not always that fun. It really depends on how crowded it is and what music they are playing I guess.
I cant get over their stupid motto: «A Modern Day Pause» WTF is that?

Bars should not have beds. Period.

I’m surprised to see the low star reviews for this place! I went their last night for the first time and had a great experience… It’s a very relaxed place with rather funky décor, but extremely attentive bartenders mixing wonderfully creative drinks and spinning great music. I highly recommend the «morpheus» cocktail, a mix of muddled basil, lemon juice, soda H20, and citron vodka… the mix sounds a bit strange but it was one of the best cocktails ever!

I gotta say, I had a great time at Cama. We got there early, (after pre-​drinking, to avoid sticker shock — thanks to the tips on pricey drinks), took up the couches in the back room, and were fully entertained by the happy crowd in the main room. So — it was fun for a peoplewatching night out, with a small group of friends — and yummy cosmos!

I’m so busy these days that I don’t have time for a casual drink, not even a Michelob Ultra after a game of croquet. Thankfully there is Cama, a place for the modern man like myself. It’s no wonder they bill themselves as a modern day pause… if it’s getting too fun here, try Blondie’s!